I'm happy for you, Lizalily!

Now, if the Postal Service would just get on the ball, everything would be all good! I mailed a bunch of Priority packages and one Next Day Air out on Friday... the Next Day Air took 3 days, after a promise of 2 days delivery... and two of my Priority packages are still sitting here in Champaign, doing nothing! I'm heading to the Post Office tomorrow morning, bright and early, to whine like a little girl! I'll be getting about 20 bucks back on the Next Day Air, and finding out who is supposed to be moving the Priority packages toward their destination! I'd say maybe the icy weather was holding up delivery, but 3 of my packages have been delivered, at opposite ends of the country!

I'm just glad I didn't ship anything living or perishable!

Please do post photos when your bulbs all flower, Lizalily... I'm very interested to see what kinds you have!

Next Day Air is delivered the next business day, which was Monday from Friday. I had to learn this. Even though there is Postal service on Saturday, it is not an official business day.

No, my dear... Next Day Air includes all 7 days of the week... they will, or should, deliver on Sunday, if necessary...

And I know this because we've gotten a lot of Next Day Air envelopes delivered on Sunday by an irate Mail Carrier!

If I post a Next Day Air on Saturday, it should be delivered before 3:00pm on Sunday... depending on how far it had to travel...

In any case, our receipt states that the envelope in question would be delivered before 3:00pm on Sunday, December 9, 2007. Somebody was asleep at the wheel...

jodik
not all zip codes deliver on sundays. usually if it's sent on a friday, it's not guaranteed until monday. the options on express is 1 day, 2 day, and 2nd delivery day (which means monday if sent on friday, because sunday is not a delivery day). the option you get depends on the zip code of destination. hope this helps

In that case, Jodi, you can go back and fight them for refund... At least a portion of the money.

Zubababy - I realize it all depends on the destination zip code... however, when you post the Next Day Air package at the Post Office, the Postal Person behind the desk will tell you when your package will be delivered, and they will give you a receipt that states the delivery date... if it will take longer than 2 days, then it would be worth while to change to another method of delivery. Next Day Air is rather costly.

We ship constantly, as we have a natural dog feed business, so we are fairly well versed in shipping options of all types... Call your local Post Office and ask... I bet they tell you that Sunday is a delivery day, depending on the destination zip code.

My point is... I was told Sunday before 3:00pm, and it didn't get there... I'm entitled to a refund, which may just go into my bulb fund! Yay!

Soultan, I won't have to fight for it... they're pretty good at giving refunds when necessary... this isn't the first package that didn't make it on time! Hehe!

At least, it made it.

Exactly! I know things are a bit clogged at the Post Office right now, what with Christmas just around the corner... still... it's bad business to promise delivery if said delivery cannot be made on time...

Either way, the package arrived safely, and a refund is forthcoming... since it's funds I didn't expect to have, it goes directly into the bulb wish fund! It actually worked out to my advantage! The larger the bulb fund, the more bulbs I can order from the Maguire summer import! And that is a good thing!

How much is the refund? :o) I will only add one more bulb for you, if you reached the $13 in your fund. :o)

Bump me up to 6 bulbs total... that should be a good number! By the time summer rolls around, I should have a nice amount of money stashed!

Okay. That's one more... Now, we are up to 63 bulbs out of a 100. Nice.

Well... we have at least 5 months to place the remainder... I don't think it will be a problem!

It will be almost completely amaryllis-less time for everyone due to off season, so the withdrawal syndrome might drive us to desperate measures. :o)

Soultan, put me down for at least 10 bulbs. Though how I will ever narrow it to that I do not know! There are 2 or 3 in the
$17 range that I think my customers deserve... and I deserve, LOL. I like to give them bouquets they can not get at the grocery floral dept, which is an excellent one as they go. Has anyone ever seen "Inca Gold" in real life? I wonder if it really is that antique gold or just a bad photo.

I think it is a really bad photo. :o) I believe it is some kind of deep orange.
So you are up to 10 bulbs.
WOW. We are at 72 bulbs already... We are working better than a Socialist brigade.

I've begun making my list, although, it's tough going... I'm having trouble narrowing it down to a respectable amount!

I've got 3 picked out in the $10 range, and too many in the other ranges! I need to narrow down to more in the $10 range, and way less in any other range! I wouldn't mind getting a couple from the $12 range... but I won't be able to get as many bulbs if I get the more expensive ones! Decisions, decisions!

By summer, I hope to have a list of concrete wants all written out and ready to go... I think by then, we'll all be in Hippi withdrawal, waiting for our next bulb fix!

Don't forget that prices are in $AUS, and you add $AUS3 to each price for shipping and handling.

And hope it is not more then that by then!

Indeed, but this would make the $AUS10 bulbs about $US11. So that is not such a bad deal: getting Australian, rare varieties for $US11 a piece...

Even if it were a few dollars more a piece, it wouldn't be so bad... after all, these are varieties we don't normally get! I think somewhere around $11 US a piece is rather cheap, actually... considering that some of the places we already order from have common varieties at much more! Some companies are downright expensive!

Exactly. Especially now that we have ran out of most of the possibilities and new varieties are only available from high priced retailers.

What I wish is that local retail stores would get on the ball and start carrying more than the usual Minerva, Apple Blossom and Red Lion... occasionally, I see Vera or a White offered, but those are usually in the more expensive kits that come with the nice ceramic designer pots...

I was shocked as all get-out when I discovered our local garden center had a decent selection! I hope they have a few different ones next year, and I think they will... they're very up on what's popular in the plant world...

I'd really like to get my hands on that "Evergreen" from Wayside next year... that's a beauty! But I'm really looking forward to the Aussie order... there are a lot of nice ones in their listing!

Based on my experiences, the same retailer brings the same selection following year, spiced up with a few new ones that the grower offer. I hope you will be pleasantly surprised next year though... Maybe you will get me the Vivaldi too. :o)

If you still need or want one when the time comes, I'd be happy to get you a Vivaldi, or any others that you want! We'll do the same thing next year... I'll send you a list of the local offerings, and you choose... and I'll get them for you and ship them out! :-)

That sounds absolutely delicious, just like the Persimmon Spice Cake that I am baking right now... :o)
I will definitely do the research next year, and if I cannot find Vivaldi locally, then I take you up on your offer... You know how I am... If it has a name and I don't have it yet, then I want it.

Mmmmm! That sounds delicious! And you bake, too! What an amazing person you are!

My husband is a fantastic cook and baker! He's way better than I am, and I cook fairly well... he makes cheesecake that puts both Eli's and Sara Lee to shame!

Next year, we will exchange local bulb lists, and do it all again! It sounds like a plan! :-)

I still have a lot of bulbs available locally. I wish I could still send some to you, but I understand your weather situation. Too bad. I am glad though that you have the sonatas now and they are actively growing for you.

Hi Soultan,

Please don't forget that I want to order 10-12 bulbs from the McGuireÂs Summer 2008 Order.

I already have the following 7 on my "tentative" want list:

 Dongina
 Drammy
 Mountain Maid
 Gurya
 Naomi
 Krakatoa
 Shirley May

Regards,

Blanca

Soultan, if you could only see it here right now! We got hit last night with a winter storm, and there are drifts of snow up to my knees this morning! I had to go outside at 7:00 am with a broom to brush the snow off the satellite dish so I could get email and surf the internet! The things we do for GardenWeb! Hehe!

It is currently 24 degrees F, with a wind chill of much lower! Brrrr!!

Actually, I'm kind of looking forward to the bulb buying rush next year! And now that I know exactly what to expect, I'll have my lists ready, and things will go a lot smoother!

Blanca, your list is written down. It is amazing, but I see th is order happening next year. What can the Internet help us to do!

Jodi, what else could you do inside all day frozen in the house? Just browse the net and have fun!

Soultan,

Have you noticed this special offer at McGuire's?

SPECIAL OFFER

FOR OUR MAIL ORDER CUSTOMERS

NB: This offer is specifically for mail order and is not available at the farm.

Order $60 or more and we will give you 1 free bulb of our choice plus, after you have paid for your bulbs and postage, for every 10 bulbs or more plus postage, you may then select one free bulb valued at $10.00. Substitutes of similar type will be used where necessary unless notified otherwise.

Soultan, if the weather cooperates, surfing the net is one option... however, if it's too windy or too cloudy, the satellite dish can't make the connection to the bird in the sky... and then, there's no signal! It's nice to have satellite, but it can be frustrating at times... I don't think I'd want to trade it for a modem with dial-up, though...

I do quite a bit of crafting in winter, and there are always plants to check and tend, things to re-pot, jugs of fertilizer to mix, etc... this is the time of year I make a lot of jewelry pieces for gifts, make polymer clay beads, paint crafts... there's lots to do, actually! Or, I could go outside and shovel snow! Hehe!

Blanca, I have noticed the special offer. If I choose a few extra bulbs in the package, the shipping and handling will take away the advantage, but I will try, then when everything comes in, will see where I will stand with the costs... Right now, I am in a little negative with the +$AUS3 added to the prices, so I will see how the whole package turns out finally.
Maybe, all the people who order 10 bulbs, we can ask for the extra one. But again, if the shipment is to the USA, the shipping charges will be counted against our order for sure.
Fortunately, we still have time to find out. I am sure that once I show the order to them, I could work on them with prices and privileges, especially if I can put together and order for the Hungarians too, so we'd eventually order 200 bulbs.

My idea is that perhaps if soultan goes through the trouble to order and organize all of this he could expect to get those free bulbs for himself. I think that would be more than fair, yes? (applause!!!) Plus keep in mind you get to order anything you want and our poor soultan, (whom we love so dearly) will order from A to B. (applause!!) so if he get some free bulbs it will help him work through that list hopefully in all of our lifetimes (applause!!!)just being a little silly but mean it!!!

If there are any free bulbs to be had when the order is placed, by all means, Soultan should be the one to receive them! I agree most wholeheartedly! It's only fair... after all, he's doing all the work! (applause!!!)

Free bulbs...$13(at the least)
Soultan's effort...priceless

The free bulbs won't even compensate half the trouble of organizing and shipping this Aussie order.

Soultan definitely deserves the free bulbs.

Without his efforts, I wouldn't be enjoying my little Hadeco miniatures! And without his efforts, I won't be able to enjoy any Aussie blooms... I think Soultan should get more than just a few free bulbs! I'll have to think of something nice to send out west this summer! :-)

Wow... :o) All of the sudden I got a lot of free bulbs, even though we haven't even ordered. :o) When I place the order, I will let you know what kind of deal we get, so we can decide on what to do. I will ask them if this special is good for overseas purchases as well, since it will mean extra shipping and additional costs for them and us... But by all means, let's take the offer. A few extra bulbs never hurt. :o)
Thank you for your nice advanced generousity though. Now, I really have to get together this order. :o)

It's only fair, Soultan... you're the one doing all the legwork to get the order together and get it shipped into this country... you SHOULD be the one to reap any extra benefits!

Hehe... I am the one doing the leg work... I will walk to Australia and back with the package...

I wouldn't recommend walking... flying might be an option... but, boy, are your arms gonna be tired by the time you get there! (I know... it wasn't that funny!)

If I could go there, I'd help them dig up the bulbs and label each and every one of them neatly, so we would not have mislabeled bulbs. I am sure we would not have many ways to complain if we didn't get what we wanted... Hopefully though, their bulbs will turn out true to name and will bloom for us beautifully.
I was just thinking though. If we get the bulbs in July, and we put them in dormancy then we will have them planted exactly at the same time as the new bulbs we can start buying up from September... Okay. Maybe a month earlier... But the thrill to get the bulbs in July...

Cheers to Soultan for coordinating our Aussie order!

Looking forward to these bulbs may help me to recover from the frustration and disappointment of having Terri "The Lily Lady" abruptly cancel a large order without any notice other than this automated email message:

Thank you for shopping with The Lily Lady.
This automated e-mail serves as confirmation that your order has been refunded.
Please do not reply to this e-mail.

The message was sent right before Terri left for her Christmas holiday and became unreachable via email or telephone until January 3rd.

Valentine's day is going to be a lot less colorful.

Insert long sigh here!!!

I send you all my warmest holiday greetings along with the hope that your bulbs are healthy and that they bloom profusely in the coming weeks.

Blanca, I am planning to order from Nature Hills. Do you want to join? Look up their varieties. I am also placing an order with Royal Colors soon that you can join and I have a lonely Prelude that I bought for someone who simply does not want it anymore. At least, there is no answer from her on our little swap, so you can have it if you want it. Send me an e-mail if you are interested. You might have bulbs and flowers for Valentine's day after all!